Hurricane Michael LIVE: South Carolina and Virginia BRACE as Hurricane to hit in 3 HOURS

FLORIDA has been reduced to rubble as Hurricane Michael swept in last night to cause devastating destruction, flattening homes and downing power lines. Georgia, North and South Carolina are now braced for the monster storm - find the latest news and live updates here.

Hurricane Michael became the third-most powerful ever to strike the US mainland and the worst to hit the Florida Panhandel since records began when the barreling winds made landfall on Wednesday.

The ferocious hurricane - now downgraded to a tropical storm - battered the Florida Gulf coast with roof-shredding winds, raging surf and torrential rains before setting its sights on Georgia.

Michael made landfall on Wednesday afternoon near Mexico Beach, about 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Panama City in Florida's Panhandle region, with top sustained winds reaching 155 miles per hour (249 kph).

The governors of North and South Carolina urged residents to brace for more heavy rain and storm-force winds as Michael plows northward up the Atlantic seaboard.

The Carolinas are still reeling from severe flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence less than a month ago, which killed 50 people.

The base is near Panama City, in one of the areas hardest hit by the storm.

Recovery teams found roof damage to nearly every home on the base, officials wrote on its Facebook page. Base leaders do not have an estimate of when it will reopen, and an evacuation order remains in effect.

“At this point, Tyndall residents and evacuated personnel should remain at their safe location,” said Col. Brian Laidlaw, 325th Fighter Wing commander. “We are actively developing plans to reunite families and plan to provide safe passage back to base housing.”

6.11pm update: Tornado Watch

A Tornado Watch is in effect for much of North Carolina and Virginia.

The watch lasts until 9 p.m. in multiple counties including Cumberland, Wake, Chatham, Durham, and Franklin.

The devastating storm was downgraded to a Tropical Storm and is expected to arrive in North Carolina late Thursday morning.

5.02pm update: ‘Michael is still a threat’

North Carolina Roy Cooper told citizens to still take Tropical Storm Michael seriously.

The storm is now entering the Carolinas which is still recovering from flooding by Hurricane Florence.

While the hurricane has weakened to a tropical storm, Cooper said people should still take precautions.

Gov Cooper said: “Inland hurricanes and tropical storms are life-threatening and can do just as much damage as coastal storms.

“I want all North Carolinas to be on alert - from storm surge on the coast, to strong winds in the eastern and central parts of NC, to rain in the Piedmont and the west. Travel can be treacherous right now, so you should stay off the roads if you can.”

He added: “At least 16 roads have already been closed due to Michael.”

A Tornado Watch is in effect for much of North Carolina and Virginia.

Hurricane Michael: A tornado watch is in place for North Carolina and Virginia (Image: NWS)

4.09pm update: Not yet known what happened to Mexico Beach residents

Search and rescue teams worked through the night in Florida to find people who need help after Hurricane Michael hit the Panhandle as a historic Category 4 storm on Wednesday.

More than 400,000 electricity accounts had lost power in Florida as of Thursday morning.

The storm caused widespread damage and authorities said at least two people were killed.

It was not yet known what had happened to about 280 residents of Mexico Beach who authorities said had ignored evacuation orders as the storm approached the state’s northeast.

3.06pm update: Michael heading to the Carolinas

Michael is producing heavy rainfall and tropical-storm-force wind gusts over much of central and eastern South and North Carolina.

The centre of Michael is now 35 miles south-southeast from Charlotte, North Carolina with sustained winds measuring 50mph.

The core of Michael will continue to move across central and eastern North Carolina today, move across southeastern Virginia this evening, and move into the Atlantic Ocean tonight, the center says.

Michael is expected to drop 4 to 7 inches of rain in parts of North and South Carolina, with up to 9 inches in isolated spots in North Carolina and Virginia.

Hurricane Michael has killed at least two people, shattered houses and buildings, downed power lines and ripped up trees when it crashed ashore on Wednesday afternoon.

Michael carried winds of up to 155 miles per hour (250km/h) and caused deep seawater flooding.

Florida Governor Rick Scott told the Weather Channel: “I think everything from Panama City down to Mexico Beach is way worse than anybody ever anticipated.

“This is going to be a long recovery but Florida is resilient, we help each other, and we survive.

“We worked all night in endangered circumstances.”

1.32pm update: ‘Third World country war zone’

Jason Gunderson, a member of the Cajun Navy rescue group said the only way to describe the devastation left behind by Hurricane Michael is a “Third World country war zone.”

Mexico Beach Councilwoman Linda Albrecht said: “It feels like a nightmare. Somebody needs to come up and shake you and wake you up.”

Michael is expected to drop 4 to 7 inches of rain from eastern Georgia to the southern mid-Atlantic and up to 9 inches of rain in isolated parts of North Carolina and Virginia, the National Hurricane Center said.

Mike Lindsey stands in his antique shop after the winds from hurricane Michael broke the windows (Image: Getty )

Hurricane Michael: Boats that were docked end up in a pile of rubble after Michael devastates (Image: Getty )

12.50pm update: Who were the victims of Hurricane Michael?

Florida officials say a man was crushed in an incident involving a tree in Gadsen County.

In Seminole County, Georgia, a metal car-shelter lifted by a gust of wind hit a mobile home, killing a girl of 11.

Michael had earlier killed at least 13 people as it passed through Central America: six in Honduras, four in Nicaragua and three in El Salvador.

12.08pm update: The Carolinas and Virginia are bracing as storm to hit in HOURS

South Carolina is next on the path of barreling Hurricane Michael, as it continues on its track towards the ocean.

The Carolinas and Virginia have just three hours before being hit by winds of around 50mph.

Michael is expected to drop up to seven inches of rain from eastern Georgia to the southern Mid-Atlantic.

And up to nine inches of rain is expected in isolated parts of North Carolina and Virginia, the National Hurricane Center said.

"While we will not see the full force of Hurricane Michael the way Florida will, we could see gusty winds, rain, flash flooding and even tornadoes," South Carolina Emergency Management Director Kim Stenson told CNN.

Tornados can often be spawned during hurricanes, as the storm makes its way inland.

The risk of tornados for Carolina is now high - meaning residents have even more risks to look out for

"With the projected path of Michael, the greatest risk for brief, spin-up tornadoes is near the storm center and south and east of the track of the storm," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said.

"In a situation like this, there may be waterspouts that drift onshore as tornadoes as far south as the west coast of the Florida Peninsula," AccuWeather Meteorologist Courtney Spamer added.

Accuweather warned those along the path of the storm from northern Florida to southeastern Virginia should expect downed trees and power outages.

"It is very dangerous to stand, walk, park or linger under tall trees in a situation like this. Large limbs may break, or entire trees may topple over. Many trees are waterlogged due to the excessive rainfall from this past summer. The soil in many areas is saturated. Trees are top heavy as a result," AccuWeather Vice President of Forecasting and Graphics Operations Marshall Moss said.

10.38am update: Michael now nearing South Carolina border

The NHC tweeted: "Michael is now a tropical storm near the Georgia/South Carolina border.

"Strong winds, heavy rain, and tornadoes are expected across portions of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina today."

The NHC said: “On the forecast track, the center of Michael will move through eastern Georgia into central South Carolina this morning, then moves across portions of central and eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia into the Atlantic Ocean by late tonight or early Friday.”

A child in Seminole County Georgia was also believed to have been killed after something fell on a home he was visiting.

Further details about the child’s death are still unclear because authorities have not yet been able to reach the home.

8.44am update: Tropical storm winds to linger over Georgia

Tropical storm conditions are hitting areas of central and southeastern Georgia, and will continue to move across portions of eastern Georgia and southern South Carolina this morning.

According to NOAA, "Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 160 miles (260 km)."

Strong winds have been reported in Georgia and are set to continue with Eastman, Georgia recording a wind gust of 63 mph, McRae, Georgia recording a wind gust of 59 mph, and Sapelo Island, Georgia reporting a wind gust of 45 mph.

Severe rain is also wreaking havoc on land, with Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia predicted to recieve three to six inches of rain with maximum amounts of eight inches.

Hurricane Michael path: Michael is the fiercest hurricane to hit Florida in 80 years (Image: WXCHARTS)

8.30am update: First death in mainland USA reported

Hurricane Michael killed 13 people as it lashed central America with heavy rain and high winds last week.

But after making landfall in Florida on Wednesday, the storm has now claimed its first life - a Florida man, who was killed by a falling tree in Gadsden County.

A woman was hit in the head by a falling tree limb but her condition is not clear.

8.00am update: Exclusive comment on Hurricane Michael

Dr Steven Godby, an expert on natural hazards at Nottingham Trent University, told Express.co.uk: “The coastline where Michael is making landfall has not experienced a storm of this ferocity since reliable records began.

"Not even the oldest residents of the Florida Panhandle will have experienced a storm like this coming ashore here and that may mean that the degree of preparation, including evacuation, amongresidentsis a concern.”